Improving quality of care for severe malnutrition in children at Port Moresby General Hospital Michael Landi MMED II Candidate 2014
Introduction Malnutrition Under nutrition or over nutrition Commonly used to refer to under nutrition Malnutrition (under nutrition) Moderate or Severe malnutrition Acute or chronic malnutrition Moderate malnutrition WFAz < - 2 SD WFHz < - 2SD Severe malnutrition WFAz score < - 3 SD WFHz score < - 3 SD MUAC < 115 mm (< 11.5 cm) age > 1 yr. Presence of nutritional oedema regardless of WFHz score
Introduction Under nutrition Significant cause of mortality triggers > 50% of deaths in < 5 yrs. (Younas 2012) Global figures: (UNICEF-WHO 2012) PNG 162 million children (< 5 yrs.) stunted 51 million wasted 17 million severely wasted Over 90% of these cases living in Asia and Africa Severe malnutrition most important form affecting both adults and children (Passingan 2001) 2012 12.6% of all admissions to all hospitals nationwide due to malnutrition Malnutrition associated with 36% of all deaths CFR of 23.3% 2011 CFR = 21% 2010 CFR = 18.8%
Aim To assess the quality of care provided to children with severe malnutrition. To evaluate the effectiveness of a multifaceted intervention to improve the care for paediatric inpatients at PMGH using the PNG and WHO recommended management guidelines for severe malnutrition.
Multifaceted intervention Teaching Formal sessions 10 steps & feedback on baseline survey results: March July Ongoing informal teachings: Teaching on new formulas (F75, F100, RUTF) June to August Equipment/Supplies Staffing Ensuring adequate supplies of milk Ensuring availability of necessary equipment F75, F100 and RUTF introduced feed preparation much easier (June) Diagnostic and monitoring equipment donated (July) Feeding timing modified Made use of students (medical and nursing) to assist with feeding, taking weights, heights and doing BSL and temperature monitoring Recommend for more nursing staff for the nutrition unit
Methodology Point prevalence surveys Timeline: Baseline survey: February 15-16 Intervention: March-July 1 st follow-up survey: August 8-9 2 nd follow up survey: planned October
Methodology The point-prevalence surveys: Survey of all paediatric inpatients Identified all children with severe malnutrition (primary or secondary, acute or chronic) Key outcome measures Compliance with guidelines Initiation of feeding Volume and frequency of feeding Weight gain (g/kg/day): poor / moderate / good Permission and ethical approval Permission was given by the hospital management through the office of the DMS, PMGH
Methodology DATA ANALYSIS SPSS Version 20 and Open Epi version 2.3 used for analysis. Quantitative data stated using Mean and 95% CI normal distribution Median IQR skewed distribution (Mann-Whitney U Test) Categorical data analyzed using Chi square test(fishers exact test for data with small numbers)
Results: Demographics Variable Baseline survey First follow up survey Total analyzed 43 (34.4) 38 (31.7) Gender Males 27 (62.8) 26 (68.4) Females 16 (37.2) 12 (31.6) Length of stay (days): Median Admission weight (Kg) : Average Current weight (Kg): Average 16 (IQR: 7 32) 8.5 (IQR: 5 23) 7.9 (7 8.7) 7.2 (6.4 7.9) 8.1 (7.3 8.9) 7.6 (6.9 8.3)
Results Comorbidities Baseline survey (N = 43) N (%) First follow up survey (N = 38) N (%) Extra pulmonary TB 14 (32.6) 6 (15.8) Diarrhoeal disease 10 (23.3) 5 (13.2) Pulmonary TB 9 (20.9) 8 (21.1) ALRTI 4 (9.3) 3 (7.9) Others 3 (7) 8 (21.1) Primary malnutrition 2 (4.7) 4(10.5) HIV/AIDS 1 (2.3) 4 (10.5)
Results Processes Variable Baseline survey N=43 N (%) First follow up survey N=38 N (%) p-value Treatment of confirmed / suspected hypoglycaemia 10 (25.3) 27 (71.1) p = 0.00 Instruction to keep warm 2 (4.7) 14 (36.8) p = 0.000 Supplemental potassium 9 (20.9) 37 (94.4) p = prescribed <0.000 Albendazole treatment 30 (69.8) 24 (63.2) p = 0.35 Zinc 27 (62.8) 38 (100) p = 0.000 Multivitamins 31 (72.1) 38 (100) p = 0.000
Results Outcome Variable Initiation of feeding: (Average day) Baseline survey First follow up survey P value 4 (2.7 5.3) 3.1 (1.9 4.3) P = 0.193 Feeding volume given in 24 hours (ml): Median 356ml (IQR: 178 450 ) 31% (21 48%) of required calories 820ml (IQR: 600 1110 ) 98% (67 100%) of required calories P < 0.001 Median weight gain (g/kg/day) 1.55 (IQR: -4.3 6.0) 5.56 (IQR: -3.7 12) P = 0.10
Discussion 34.4% vs. 31.7% of all inpatients were severely malnourished for the two respective surveys. Baseline survey Generally poor compliance with treatment guidelines Delay in initiation of feeding Outcome areas poor (e.g. Weight gain) First follow-up survey Significant improvement processes/compliance with guide lines Modest improvement out come areas
Persisting problems No control in some areas of intervention Nursing manpower Milk supplies Faulty equipment/lack of equipment Standardized methods of taking measurements
Conclusion A significant proportion of inpatients in both surveys were severely malnourished. Improving quality care requires ongoing implementation of multifaceted intervention (holistic approach) Attempt to diagnose severe malnutrition as a comorbidity should be an additional indicator. Acute malnutrition needs to be differentiated from chronic malnutrition No need to prescribe individual multivitamins and electrolytes if F75, F100 or RUTF being instituted
Acknowledgement Prof. Trevor Duke and Dr. H. Welch for assistance with this project Dr. P. Ripa classes on statistics and use of SPSS software All paediatric SMOs, MOs, and RMOs of PMGH. All paediatric nursing staff of PMGH PMGH Hospital Management UNICEF OXFAM International Nursing and medical students Patients/guardians involved in the two surveys
References: UNICEF-WHO-The World Bank Child malnutrition Databases: Estimates For 2012 and Launch of Interactive Data Dash Boards. http://www.who.int/entity/nutgrowthdb/jme unicef who.pdf The CGPRT Centre. Working Paper Series 56, May 2001. Food security strategies for Papua New Guinea: 2001; 56: (26 28) World Health Organization Pocket Book of Hospital Care for Children: Guidelines for the management of common childhood illnesses: 2013 (197 222). Papua New Guinea Standard Treatment for Common Illnesses of Children in Papua New Guinea. A manual for nurses, community health workers, health extension officers and doctors: 2011 (74 83). Paediatric Department and Child Health advisory committee, PNG National Department of Health: 2012 Annual Report on Child Morbidity and mortality. Mutambek J, Tmana C: Malnutrition status in children in Sandaun Province. National statistical office 1994 (451 456)